Oil company turns to LPG

It's easy to think that an oil company wouldn't bother to use alternative fuels when they've got petrol and diesel aplenty. Well, it turns out ConocoPhillips decided to cut their fuel bills and corporate fleet emissions nonetheless.

LPG-powered vehicles, equipped with Roush CleanTech autogas technology, had been tested by ConocoPhillips as part of their fleet since 2011. Apparently the company was satisfied with the results and they have recently announced that 30 pick-up trucks will be converted for regular fleet duty. Not too many, we expect you to say. True, but the aforementioned 30 are planned for this year alone, with more than 300 to be converted overall within the next five years.

It is estimated that each of the LPG-powered trucks will eliminate over 30 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in the course of its lifetime (compared to a counterpart running on petrol). Running costs will also be considerably reduced, but there are other benefits, too: extended range (thanks to the addition of the autogas system to the already existing petrol system), extended maintenance intervals, reduced engine wear and improved drivability. The trucks will feature Roush CleanTech technology and will be powered with LPG produced in the San Juan basin.

The addition of propane autogas trucks will greatly reduce ConocoPhillips’ carbon footprint while using a fuel they produce here in the US. And with autogas’ low-priced fuel and infrastructure costs, this investment will pay off for their bottom line.